Should you package your vulnerability?

SUMMARY: The debate centers on whether vulnerability should be packaged for sales. The speaker opposes manipulating vulnerability to drive sales, expressing discomfort with such tactics. Instead, genuine storytelling that connects on a deeper level without ulterior motives is encouraged. While oversharing is prevalent, setting personal boundaries and staying true to one’s message is crucial, especially in media appearances. The audience is invited to consider their stance on the matter and maintain authenticity in storytelling.

Should you package your vulnerability?

Hi everyone, I’m Susan Harrow, media coach, marketing strategist, author of Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul®, published by HarperCollins and CEO prsecrets.com. Here today with your media training minute: Should you package your vulnerability?

I just read something and I want to read it to you. It’s a fantastic clickbait. “Get just the right mix of vulnerability, credibility and sales to capture, connect and convert.” People so much want to predict their fame and their fortune, but packaging your vulnerability is like an oxymoron. You don’t put your vulnerability on display so you can convert people to buy your stuff. You know what that makes me want to do? Baaaaarf! Yeah, that’s what it makes me want to do.

Yes, we want you to be human and we want you to tell a fantastic story that moves us. But to do it with that kind of manipulation. I’m going to tell the story, so I can convert you to buy my stuff – I just, it really rankles me. You know what I want from you, I want you to be alive, yes to write and speak about the human experience. Tell a story that moves us, that you share something that’s really important and critical to who you, are crucial to who you are, that expresses who you are that connects you to other people.

Connecting the Right Way

Because we connect sometimes more deeply in the sorrow, I don’t even like this term, the broken places. But where people are cracked open in certain places. That when we share those times and we share that those stories sincerely, not with the intention to convert you to buy my stuff but to for the connection to say, “I’m we’re speaking on a deeper level” to each other. And if you connect with me, you want to engage with me further. I mean, I know that that sometimes means buy my stuff or take my courses. But it just rankles me to do that explicitly like that. And to have that intention. I think the difference, is to have that intention. I’m telling this story about myself. So I can convert you.

What is Your Take?

What do you think? This is the this is a tough one because so much of what’s going on in the culture today is a culture of oversharing. I think, especially when you’re doing media, or when you’re doing any kind of video, it’s super important to decide ahead of time, how far you want to go with that. Is this something you would tell your best friend? That you really want to share with the world? And is it important to do so? Setting those boundaries that are right for you is super important. Then to stay within those boundaries. I have a number of videos that talk about: How you can stay on the message that you want to give. I’d love to hear what you think about that.

And if you would like to visit my website, it’s prsecrets.com like public relations secrets.com. I have lots of free trainings and master classes, all different kinds of trainings. And all different kinds of options for you for PR. And if you would like to book a discovery call with me, it’s free 15 minutes. I’d love that too. Talk to you soon. Bye.

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